EDITORIAL ROUNDUP

MACH zone status for MMMA Metalworking Village

As part of a long-term partnership agreement, the Manufacturing Technologies Association (MTA) and the Metalforming Machinery Makers Association (MMMA) have created a renamed focus zone within the MACH 2024 exhibition.The rebrand will see a clearly identified area on the MACH 2024 floorplan labelled ‘MMMA Metalworking Village (Sheet Metal, Metal Forming and Fabrication)‘. In addition, the area is now referenced as an official‘zone’ (MMMA Metalworking Village) on the MACH 2024 website. There will be a dedicated entrance to the village in hall 6.
For further information www.mmma.org.uk

60th anniversary for LK Metrology

Established in 1963, LK Metrology has an impressive heritage dating back to the birth of co-ordinate measuring machine (CMM) technology. Founded by former Rolls-Royce engineer and CMM pioneer Norman Key and his father-in-law Jim Lowther, the company is credited with many innovations in the CMM industry. For instance, in 1972, in partnership with Rolls-Royce, Key worked alongside the person who would co-found Renishaw a year later, Sir David McMurtry, who today is its executive chairman, to develop the now industry-standard Renishaw touch-trigger probe.
For further information www.lkmetrology.com

MTA expands support for manufacturers

The Manufacturing Technologies Association (MTA) has expanded its support to the engineering-based manufacturing sector with the formation of a new cluster of trade associations and events. This progressive move sees the Engineering Industries Association (EIA) and Additive Manufacturing UK (AMUK) join the MTA portfolio to create a unique alliance dedicated to promoting excellence in the field of engineering-based manufacturing.

Combining with MACH (Birmingham NEC, 15-19 April 2024), the UK’s national event for inspiring, innovating and connecting manufacturing, and the new Engineering Supply Chain Show, the cluster represents a united front dedicated to furthering the interests of engineering-based manufacturing in the UK, in turn boosting business opportunities.
For further information www.mta.org.uk

Citizen Machinery UK extends international reach

Citizen Machinery UK has long-been responsible for the Japanese watch group’s CNC bar-fed lathe sales in Britain and Ireland, while also being a distribution hub for machine sales in France, Spain, Portugal, the Nordic Countries, the Middle East and Africa. Additionally, the company works with subsidiaries in Italy and Germany. Underlining its international standing, the UK subsidiary has spread its wings much further to join forces with a dealer in Australia, Headland Technology, based in Victoria. Also operating also from centres in Sydney, Perth and Brisbane, Headland serves the Australian and New Zealand markets.
For further information www.citizenmachinery.co.uk

Brandauer scoops two CBM awards

One of the West Midlands’ best-kept manufacturing secrets has capped a record-breaking year by securing two major industrial awards.Brandauer, which produces millions of high-tolerance metal pressings/stampings every week for customers in 10 sectors and across 26 different countries, was named the Confederation of British Metalforming’s ‘Company of the Year’ in front of 200 people at Birmingham’s Grand Hotel.

Judges praised the Birmingham-based company for its resilience and ability to bounce back from the pandemic, developing a unique lamination process for electrification and increasing its tooling business from £500,000 to £2m per year.This result has seen Brandauer take turnover past £9m for the first time in its 161-year history, including new orders for a Slovenian automotive supplier of HVAC systems, a new $3m supercar and reconnaissance drones.
For further information www.brandauer.co.uk